Umbrella construction



April 18, 1950 M. ORNSTEIN ET AL UMBRELLA CONSTRUCTION Filed April 18, 1946 INVENTOR Max Urn/stein B (Lt/thew Crust/25:1

m. Ill/114,4 3 M II A n 5 44 v 2 5 H. 4 4 m TTORNEY Patented Apr. 18, 1950 UNITED OFFICE Max Ornstein and Matthew Ornstein, New York, N. Y.

Application April 18, 1946, Serial No. 663,042

13 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an umbrella construction; more particularly to a method for tipping an umbrella cover and tips therefor.

It is contemplated by our invention to provide a method for attaching an umbrella tip to the cover which Will effect substantial economies in labor, while assuring durability of the cover affixing operation.

In the specific embodiment of our invention it is contemplated by us to provide for an umbrella cover, a rib tip comprising a body portion and socket for fitting to the rib of an umbrella, the tip lending itself readily to a stapling operation whereby drawn wire or like stapling material may be utilized to attach the umbrella cover to the tip by a frictional and perforating anchorage. The form and relationship of the wire or metallic staple which is employed and the manner of shaping the staple give unusually desirable results, so far as economy and durability are concerned.

It is contemplated by our invention to speed up the attaching process of umbrella cover to a rib tip whereby the body of the rib tip, in one form, is pierced by a staple to minimize the need for aligning the tip and stapling implement and permitting automatic or semi-automatic operations. It is still further an object of our invention to provide for the attachment of the um-' brella rib tip to the cover, while providing an under-forming and/or over-forming tie of the umbrella fabric in its attachment to the rib tip.

It is still further an object of our invention to provide for an attachment of the cover to the rib tip by a, stapling operation which alternatively employs tips already perforated or those which are not formed with thread receiving perforations or grooves whereby high speed attachment by stapling operation may be employed to afiix perforated, grooved or unper'forated rib tips and covers to each other, with both efficient anchorage and durability of union.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereafter pointed out, we make reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a tip in accordance with one embodiment of our invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating one step of the attaching operation;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the tip illustrated in Figure 1 on a rib;

Figure 4 is a section taken n the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

' of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a view corresponding to Figure 6 employing a perforated tip, and stapled in accordance with the embodiment shown in Figure 12;

Figure 8 is a longitudinal, partly sectional view of a rib tip in accordance with another embodiment of our invention;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a fragment of a rib, with a rib tip and cover attached to it, parts being broken away to show the position of the staple;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a form. of staple in accordance with the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 9;

Figure 11 is a perspective view showing the progressive change in form of the staple;

Figure 12 is a perspective view showing a still further embodiment of the staple used in the assembly in accordance with Figure 7;

Figure 13 is a perspective view showing the staple of Figure 12 partly formed;

Figure 14 is a perspective view of a still further embodiment of a form of staple in accordance with our invention.

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic illustration of an over-forming tie with a staple in accordance with Figure 14.

Figure 16 is a diagrammatic illustration of an under-forming and over-forming tie, with a staple in accordance with Figure 13.

Making reference to the drawings, it is con,- templated by us to provide in one embodiment a rib tip to, including a body portion ll, having at one end a head l2 and at the other end a socket H to receive the rib end. The rib tip is formed with flanges l4 and I5, defining an annular groove is. The rib tip may be of wood, a thermo-setting plastic, such as a phenolic aldehyde castable resin or a plastic which machines like brass or wood. We prefer in this embodiment to use a rib tip material which may respond to piercin action of a driven staple, such as evidenced by some of the soft woods, or some of the thermo-plastic phenol aldehyde castable resinous product which becomes deformable when hot examples of which resinous products are clear Catalin or Marblette. I

To use a rib tip as thus described, the umbrella cover I! is enveloped about the rib tip l0, directing the front face of the cover adjacent 3 the seam l8, around the tip so that the head I2 is inwardly directed toward the center of the cover, with the socket l3 below the apex lBa of the cover. In this position, we employ a staple [9, as illustrated in Figure 10. This staple may be formed of malleable wire, either brass, aluminum or rust-resisting iron. The staple is pre-- formed to provide the branches 20 and 2| thereof of general arcuate shape, with piercing prongs 22, 22, far enough apart to clear the flanges l4 and I5. Assembly is effected by embracing the staple l9 so as to have the branches 20 and 2| aligned with the groove l6, enveloping and forcing the fabric I! in the groove and then shaping the prongs 22 to turn them at right angles to form the bend 23, so that the points pierce the fabric and enter the body of the tip ID, in which position the staple I9 is closely formed, molded I or shaped and pressed into the groove l6.

On turning the rib tip to direct the head l2 outward, the apex IBa is enveloped by the fabric as it is folded along the fold line 24. The pull of the cover on the enveloped apex along the fold line 24 as it is mounted on a rib 25 serves to maintain pressure on the staple I9, urging the prongs 22 more intimately into the body of the tip l0.

Thus we provide an under-forming tie, making this terminal portion of the staple invisible and exposing only a small section of the staple adjacent the hem 26 of the cover.

Where a wooden rib tip is employed, the stapling and piercing operation just described may be conducted at normal temperatures. Where a heat deformable rib tip is employed, the staple may be heated to accelerate the speed of the piercing operation, or both the staple and the rib tip may be heated without fracturing the tip.

While we have shown and described a rib tip having a flange defining a groove IE, it will be understood that our invention is applicable to a standard form of rib tip 21, illustrated in Figure 5, comprising a shank 28 having a head 29 at one end and a rib end receiving socket 3!] at the other end. Here a thread receiving perforation 3| is shown.

In the assembly of the cover the procedure as described in connection with the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 may likewise be employed except that in this instance, care is taken to align the perforation 3| with the staple former so as to direct the prongs 22 into the perforation 3|, using as before the under-forming tie.

We may, however, arrange the perforation so that the enveloping action serves to bring the staple in the converse position-that is, to perform an over-forming tie, whereby the staple passes over the hem edges 26, entering the cover adjacent the seam I8, as illustrated in Figure 2.

In other respects, similar parts have been similarly numbered to indicate the relative position of the rib tip 21 on the rib 25, with the cover both anchored and frictionally bound by the staple ring l9.

' In the last illustrated form, the piercing prongs 22 more readily enter the transverse perforations 3|, allowing a more intimate moulding or shaping of the wire with the tip and the cover apex lBa which it pinches. As in the present, as well as the prior illustration, the compressibility of the rib tip and the provision for piercing or entering into the body of the rib tip provides for an anchorage and frictional contact not possible by any other rib tip attaching means known to us.

In Figure '7, a rib tip 21 is shown with a, transverse perforation 3!, as previously described. In this embodiment we show a staple illustrated in Figure 12, comprising a generally T-shaped staple 32, having a shank 33, terminating in a piercing point 34 at one end and provided with a T-shaped head 35 comprising branches 36 and 31, each terminating in piercing prongs 38 and 39 respectively. This type of staple may be preliminarily, arcuately shaped, as shown in Figure 13, to inwardly direct the piercing points 38 and 39. Thereafter, or as part of the forming operation, the rib tip and cover are assembled, to have the piercing point 34 enter the body of the tip which, in this example, is the perforation 3|, piercing the cover and inching the same. Thereafter, the piercing points 33 and 39 are inwardly turned, to direct them both into the opposite end of the perforation 3!, in the manner as described in connection with the embodiment illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.

Here again the deformability of the rib tip and its receptivity to the piercing prongs affords the opportunity to mould or shape the staple into intimate contact with the tip and interposed cover fabric in a manner not possible by any stitching or clamping operation.

It will be understood that while We have illustrated the staple 32 as made of a single piece of material, such as drawn wire, as evidenced from the bends or elbows 40 and 4| to define the shank 33, it will be understood that a staple in accordance with the embodiment illustrated in Figure 12 may be forged or otherwise formed by one operation, or stamped out of a single sheet of metal by metal stamping operations.

7 In Figure 8 we have illustrated another embodiment of our invention involving a rib tip 42, comprising a body portion 43, free from perforations, and having at one end the head 44, and at the opposite end a rib tip receiving socket 45. As in the prior embodiments, we prefer to select as the material from which this rib tip is formed, one which responds to the stapling operation or which is deformable and elastic under the stapling operation, or is so made by heat treatment of the rib tip, wire or both, as heretofore described.

In this embodiment, the same procedure as described in connection with the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1, 5 and 7 may be resorted to, eliminating, however, the necessity for any alignment of the stapling hammer and anvil dies, other than at some section above the end of the socket and below the ornamental neck 46 of the rib [0.

In this, as well as any of the preceding examples, the piercing of the prongs through the fabric and into the body of the rib tip may be to secure an under-forming tie, an over-forming or clamping tie, or both.

In still another embodiment of our invention, as illustrated in Figure 14, a generally U-shaped staple 41 may be employed, comprising a branch 48, having a piercing point 49 and a branch 50 which is longer and preliminarily arcuately shaped, partly to envelope the mid-section of a rib tip. The terminous 51 may be shaped to the position shown in dotted lines by the stapling operation, so as to secure either an under-forming tie or an over-forming or clamping tie, but not both.

Optionally, the terminous 5| may be shaped to effect a. piercing operation, thus procuring by the simple U-shaped staple 41 approximately onehalf of the effect shown in the embodiment illustrated in Eigure 7, it being understood, however, that this form of staple may be employed. with any of the forms of tips illustratedin Figures 1,5and8=.-

In each case: the fabric, as it holds the rib tip nested in a fold adjacent the seam, may have the staple drivento secure an under-forming tie, with or without piercing of the fabric, or an over-forming or clamping tie, with a piercing of the fabric. Piercing of the fabric particularly through the seam is very desirable.

It will be understood that by turning the perforation with respect to the seam iii aquarter of aturn from that shown in Figures 2, 6: and '7, the under-forming and over-forming ties may optionally include piercing of the fabric or mere enveloping action.

It will thus be observed that we have provided a novel method of attaching the rib tip to the cover, which may rapidly carry out an effective anchorage and frictional union of the fabric cover to the rib tip.

It will be understood that while several advantages of our operation have been pointed out, other advantages inherent in our method will readily appear to those skilled in the art.

In the specification and claims, where we refer to under-forming tie we mean to include the enveloping of the staple body about the rib tip periphery adjacent the seam or overlying the seam with a prong entering the tip to run diametrically through the same. This is done with the socket portion of the tip outwardly disposed and on the front face of the cover when it is folded to nest the tip. When the rib tip is reversed, to lie on the inside face of the cover, the under-forming tie is wedged between the fold of the cover and the apex adjacent the hem or selvage edge of the periphery of the cover.

By the over-forming or over-clamping tie we mean to include the enveloping of the staple adjacent the periphery or selvage or hemmed edge of the cover, passing through the over-lying layers and then piercing through the cover into the tip, when the tip is nested in a fold of the cover lying radially, with the socket outwardly directed and on the surface of the cover, so that upon reversal of the tip so that its head is outwardly disposed, the peripheral edges of the cover are joined in front of the rib tip.

It will be understood that while Figures and 16 diagrammatically illustrate an under-forming tie and over-forming tie, or a combination of the two, these operations are intended to be performed with an unperforated tip, specifically illustrated in Figures 1 and 8, or a normally perforated tip, in which event the tip is aligned so that the perforation 3| is at right angles to the position shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7.

Having thus described our invention and illustrated its use, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The method of attaching rib tips to an umbrella cover which includes as steps thereof nesting each one of the tips adjacent a fold of the periphery of the cover, enveloping the cover about the shank of the rib tip and shaping a staple at least partly around the rib tip, with the cover in position, to pierce the cover during the shaping and enter into the rib tip.

2. The method of attaching rib tips to an umbrella cover which includes as steps thereof nesting each one of the tips adjacent a fold of the periphery of the cover, enveloping the cover about the shank of the rib tip and shaping a eii) staple at least partly around the rib tip, with the cover in position, to pierce. the cover and enter into the rib within a transverse perforation thereof."

3. The method of attaching rib tips to an. umbrella cover which includes the steps of enveloping the cover about the shank offlthe rib tips and while in this potion shaping a staple around the coverv so enveloping the tips, and anchoring an. end of the staple by piercing the cover during the shaping and entering into the rib tip- 4. The method of attaching ribtips to an umbrella cover which includes the steps of enveloping the cover about the perforated shank of the rib tips and while in this position shaping a staple around the cover so enveloping the tips, and anchoring an end of the staple by piercing the cover and entering into the rib tip, said end of said staple being restrained within the perforation of said rib tips.

5. The method of attaching rib tips to an umbrella cover which includes as steps thereof providing a rib tip of nonmetallic perforable materials, nesting each one of the rib tips adjacent the periphery within a fold radially of said cover, enveloping the cover about the shank of the rib tip, shaping a staple to embrace the rib tip th-us enveloped by the cover and bendin the staple ends to pierce the cover and anchor the staple ends into the rib tip.

6. The method of attaching rib tips to an umbrella cover, each of which tips being made of normally rigid, heat deformable plastics, making a fold adjacent the periphery of the cover and radially thereof, nesting a rib tip within said fold to be enveloped thereby, shaping a staple about the fabric so enveloped about the tip by an underforming tie and turning a pronged end of said staple to pierce the cover and anchor into the tip.

7. The method of attaching rib tips to an umbrella cover, said rib tips having a transverse perforation therein, which includes as steps thereof forming a fold radially of the cover adjacent the periphery, nesting a rib tip to have the shank thereof adjacent said periphery and enveloped by the cover, forming a wire staple about the rib tip thus enveloped, and directing the pronged ends of the staple to pierce the cover and anchoring into said perforation, the forming position providing an underforming tie by the shaping of said staple ends about said rib tip.

8. The method of attaching rib tips to an umbrella cover which includes as steps thereof forming a fold substantially radially of the cover adjacent the hem edge, nesting a rib tip to have the shank thereof adjacent said hem edge and enveloped by the cover, forming a wire staple of substantially T-shaped contour about the tip to have the vertical branch of the T pierce the cover and enter the tip, while shaping the side branches of the T-shaped staple thus provided around the cover.

9. The method of attaching umbrella rib tips made of thermoplastic derivatives to an umbrella cover which includes as steps thereof nesting each one of such tips adjacent a fold of the periphery of the cover radially thereto, enveloping the cover about the shank of the rib tip as one element and shaping a staple as the second element at least partly around the rib tip, with the cover in position, and while heating one of the elements, piercing the cover to have the staple enter into the rib tip.

10. The method of attaching thermoplastic rib tips to an umbrella cover which includes as steps thereof overlaying the cover on the rib tips, shaping a metallic staple around the rib tip with the cover thus positioned, and while softening the rib tip by heat, piercing the staple through the cover to enter into the rib tip.

11. An umbrella cover, the peripheral hem edges of which have aflixed thereto rib tips, the shank of which tips are enveloped by the hem edges of the cover, and held thereto in said enveloped position by a staple, the ends of which are directed and pass through the cover and terminate in the rib tips and the body of the staple being directed to form at least a partially wrapped around tie.

12. An umbrella cover in accordance with claim 11 wherein said staple holds the hem edges of said cover to said tip by an under-forming tie.

8 13. An umbrella cover in accordance with claim 11 wherein said staple binds the hem edges of said cover to said rib tips by an over-forming tie and an under-forming tie.

MAX ORNSTElN. MATTHEW ORNSTEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,060,712 Schultz et al. May 6, 1913 2,413,617 Gershman Dec. 31, 1946 

